Archives for May 2011

I know what some of you are thinking. “Yea Melissa, that’s just great that you’ve found hope and healing and are now living with joy and freedom in your life, but I don’t think it’s possible for me.”

“I’ve tried so hard to be free from my past, but it still haunts me.”

“There are reminders every where I turn.”

“For some reason I can’t heal, I’ve tried.”

“No one gets me.”

“I’ll read this book and even do the online study…maybe even the conference calls, but I don’t think it will work.”

“This has been a part of me for too long. It’s who I am.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be free.”

Do you recognize yourself in any of these statements? You should because they are words that you have written to me personally! And they are all lies. Yep that’s right. If you feel this way, then something evil has a hold on you. The father of lies is whispering, maybe even screaming, in your mind how you aren’t able or you aren’t worthy…you are damaged goods so give up. Settle. Go ahead and try this study, give God another chance, but it probably won’t work. LIES. LIES. LIES. I beg you not to listen to those lies. They directly contradict the Voice of our Father.

Today, Wendy Blight came into the Proverbs 31 office to personally sign books that were being sent out to those doing the Online Bible Study, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. Before she left, we gathered in a private office to pray. To pray for each one of you. We cried out to God on your behalf asking Him to touch your heart, transform your thoughts, give you faith, and for you to accept His offer of hope and healing. We prayed that you would believe that healing is possible for you (no matter what you’ve done or what has been done to you), that you would believe it because “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Yes, with God all things are possible and we are doing this with God.

My friend, guest on the conference calls, and our Go To Girl for counseling advice during this study, Stephanie Clayton shares an unfair, unbelievable, horrific, tragic experience that happened to her. Left broken and convinced that her life was ruined, God reached down and she chose to grab hold of His hand and believe what He had to offer. He took her brokenness and transformed her life. Now she is able to use her pain to help bring healing to others. Impossible yes. Impossible for a person. But she joined forces with the Almighty God. And with Him all things are possible. This was proven to be true in her life.

I know many of you aren’t there yet. That’s okay. That’s why I chose this book for our next online study. It takes time. It’s a process. Let that encourage you. This book will not save you, but it will provide you with the tools, the map, the prayer, the direction, the Word that leads to the One Who will save you. Do you believe this? You have to start somewhere, so why not start with deciding to believe that this time is for you. This time will be different. Believe God is doing something new in you. I believe it. Wendy Blight believes it. Stephanie Clayton believes it. Read these words from Isaiah 43:19.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

I am claiming this verse for each and every one of us doing this Bible study and I need you to claim it too. You see, I can claim it for you, but really it’s not yours until you claim it for yourself. Allow God’s Word to come alive in you and for you. Start with this verse.

My sweet sweet friend, you don’t have to be free or feel free to begin believing God’s promises for you. Sometimes you just have to take a step of faith and choose to believe it. Will you try? Beginning with Isaiah 43:19? God makes big promises, but He can’t work if you aren’t willing to believe Him.

He is doing a new thing in your life, beginning now. He’s making a way for you. Let’s hold hands and walk together in faith on this journey towards complete and total healing. The road traveled begins with one step. Take the step of belief with me today.

If you are brave enough to believe this, leave a comment today sharing that with us. I will pray for each of you by name. I want you to know you are safe here. This is your group. Let us hear from you. Let us hear that you are choosing to believe that…

Below is the letter I sent to each person who has signed up for the Hidden Joy Online Bible Study. If you signed up and did not receive this letter, please first check your spam, second make sure you actually signed up in the sidebar of this blog, and third email us at: MelissaTaylorQuestions@gmail.com .

If you are new to joining us, welcome! I’m honored to have you as a part of this group. It is my prayer that each person signed up will feel as if she is a part of something special. This is our Bible Study group, our community, our online family. I have done my best to create a place where everyone feels special, loved, and safe. I’m thrilled you’ve decided to study Wendy Blight’s book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner with me!

All you need to participate in this study is the book and internet connection. Each week, beginning May 29th, I’ll post the week’s assignments on my blog, www.MelissaTaylor.org .

For some the online part of the study will be enough, but others will want more. If you are someone who desires deeper connection, communication with others, as well as education and extra inspiration, then the Hidden Joy Conference Call Series is for you.

The calls have been such a huge help and success in the past, that they will be offered again for this online study. The calls will take place on Monday nights: June 6th, June 20th, July 11th, and August 1st. The cost for the calls is $15. Information on signing up for these calls and how to pay is in the final paragraph of this letter!

During each call, you will hear a short but power packed message from Melissa Taylor (Online Bible Studies Leader), Interview with the special guests, and have time for Q and A. Prior to each call you will receive call in information and an outline. Following each call, you will receive information to access the recording (via phone or computer download). You never have to worry about missing a thing even if you can’t be on the call live!

Here are the details of each call:

Call #1 June 13, 2011, 8 pm EST
Message: Why God Why?
Special Guests: Melissa Taylor and Stephanie Clayton
On this first call, the tables are turned as 106.9 The Light Radio Host, Carol Davis interviews Online Bible Study Leader Melissa Taylor. Following Melissa’s interview, she will move back to the seat she’s more comfortable in to interview Stephanie Clayton. Meet Melissa and Stephanie:

Melissa Taylor
Melissa has been speaking and writing for Proverbs 31 Ministries for eight years. She is a contributing author to God’s Purpose for Every Woman and The Reason We Speak._ Her writing is also featured in the _P31 Woman magazine and the ministry’s online devotions, Encouragement for Today. Melissa joined the staff of Proverbs 31 Ministries as Administrative Assistant in 2007, where the highlight of her job is praying for and helping those who call the office feeling desperate, hopeless, and alone. As a sexual abuse survivor, she understands what is feels like to suffer and feel too scarred for a good life. Today, her greatest joy in life is sharing Jesus with others because she has learned first hand what He and only He can do, proving that healing is possible.

In 2011, Melissa began Online Bible Studies on her blog because she wanted to provide a venue of study for women who aren’t in a Bible study group for whatever reason. In her first 5 months of leading the Bible studies, over 5,600 have signed up. Women are hungry for the Word of God and it is her goal to teach them how to live it and apply it.

Melissa lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Jeff, four children, Blake, Hayden, Dylan, and Hayley Grace, and her sweet dogs Princess and Maggie.Melissa and her family attend Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.

Stephanie Clayton
Stephanie Clayton is going to be our Go To Girl
for her expertise, advice, and care. She will be interviewed on the first two calls and will be present on all four calls to answer any questions you may have for her.

Stephanie holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and currently leads a survivors of sexual abuse group. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults concerning issues such as substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and sexual abuse. Stephanie is a survivor of sexual assault, and has struggled herself with depression and anxiety. This has led and fueled her passion and desire for every individual to find freedom through Christ. She is a gifted writer, which you can see for yourself! She blogs over at www.myloveletter2god.blogspot.com. You can also find Stephanie on Facebook and Twitter.

Dr. Kris Colangelo
Dr. Kris Colangelo owned her own family chiropractic practice for eight years before returning to school to receive more education in order to merge a love of education, writing, and science. She currently teaches Anatomy & Physiology for the online campus of Herzing University. Her ultimate career goal includes writing and teaching science to the public to help kids and adults make healthy choices in life.

Kris’s faith became active through regular church attendance in college. Over the years, she longed more to have a relationship with God versus simply going through the motions of being religious. She was born again several years ago after listening to a Joyce Meyer teaching on Religion vs. Relationship, and she’s been passionate about growing her faith and learning the Bible since that time. She is active in her church and her local women’s small group. Even with many blessings in her life, Kris is no stranger to pain and fear. She has been a victim of relationship abuse; she has endured a lot of stress in her marriage, and she has endured the loss of two babies in utero. And yet, through it all, her faith has endured.

Stephanie Clayton
See bio under call #1

Call #3 July 11, 2011 8 pm EST
Message: How Can I Forgive: myself & others
Joining us for this call is truly the one who made this study a reality, author of Hidden Joy, Wendy Blight.

Wendy Blight
Wendy Blight has been blessed with the passion and giftedness to bring God’s Word alive. Her messages and lessons share the specific Scriptures and prayers that have transformed her heart and home. She loves to teach Bible study and write corresponding curriculum because, “I know that in the process a woman will connect directly to the heart of God.”

She has led thousands in study, in person and through internet, video, writing, and other media. She has appeared as a featured guest on Oprah Radio, The 700 Club, Family Life Today with Dr. Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine, Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and more. Wendy has authored a book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, and several Bible studies. Just days after her college graduation, she was attacked by a masked man hiding in her apartment. While she physically survived, she lived the next decade in a prison of fear, despair, and hopelessness. God and God alone healed her. Her story is now an amazing testimony of God’s strength in weakness, His hope in hopelessness, and His healing in brokenness. Hidden Joy recounts her journey of transformation from a prison of fear to freedom in Christ and offers a step-by-step walk through God’s Word to find physical, spiritual, and emotional healing.

She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband Monty and two children Lauren (17) and Bo (13). In addition to being a wife and mother, she serves on the staff and Speaker Team of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Before moving to Charlotte, she practiced law in Dallas, Texas. You can read more from Wendy on her blog, www.WendyBlight.com .

“Allison” (keeping her identity anonymous)
Allison is the mother of a child sex abuse survivor. From the moment she learned of the abuse, she knew that whatever came next, God would sustain them. Eighteen months later, at the age of 11, Allison’s daughter testified against her abuser. The mental and emotional effects of the abuse and subsequent trial led this young victim to suicidal ideation and an actual suicide attempt. Through it all, Allison and her daughter see God’s hand in her continued healing and growth into the strong survivor for whom He has such wonderful plans.

Lynn Cowell
Lynn is the author of His Revolutionary Love: Jesus’ Radical Pursuit of You and part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ speaking team. She helps teens through one-on-one mentoring, leading small groups, and teaching at conferences.

Lynn’s desire is for every person she encounters to get that Jesus wants you – He is that into you! Jesus’ passion for His own is completely life altering and Lynn’s heart is to lead others to this depth of relationship. You can visit Lynn on her blog, www.LynnCowell.com

I hope you will consider joining these calls. They are designed specifically for you. I can’t wait to “talk” to you during this series! If you have any questions, email me or Angie (our Online Bible Studies lovely assistant) at: MelissaTaylorQuestions@gmail.com .

Below is the email I sent to all those who have signed up for the Online Bible Study. It was sent at 5:50 pm EST May 17th. If you signed up after that time, you may have not received it. If you signed up before then you should have. Check your email, check your spam.

To receive all Bible Study emails, you need to sign up in the right sidebar of this blog under “Bible Study Sign Up”. You should immediately receive an email which you have to confirm by clicking a link.

If you received a blank email from me today…well what can I say except, “Welcome to the world of Melissa where mistakes are often made!” Seriously! I am working with a new program to get these emails together and I pressed the wrong button and out a blank email went to thousands of people! So sorry, as you will learn I will need your “grace, grace, grace” many times over.

I am so honored to have you join me as we go through Wendy Blight’s book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner. It’s no accident that we have been brought together, to learn, to study, to heal, to trust, to live, and to find joy.

I have so much to share with you, so you may want to grab a diet coke or a cup of coffee (those would be my choices at least) andread carefully the information here. I’m going to try and give you all the details you will need for this Bible study. Also I ask for your patience. We have hundreds signing up daily. You may receive an email more than once or receive some of the same information in a new email. I want to ensure that everyone gets the info they need.

FYI, many of you have asked if this study is specifically for sexual abuse or rape victim/survivors. The answer is NO. It is for anyone who is looking for answers, searching for hope, and desiring to feel “normal” again. God has plans for you and like Wendy says, “no circumstance is too difficult, no choice too reprehensible, and no pain too deep for God to redeem.”

I’m ready for a life transformation, how about you?

Online Bible Study

****You will need the book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner by Wendy Blight. You can order the book almost anywhere books are sold. If you choose to order through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you will receive a 10% discount and your book will be autographed by author, Wendy Blight. Call the P31 Office, 877-731-4663 or visit our website www.Proverbs31.org to order. If you order online from Proverbs 31, make sure you enter the code HJ10 in the coupon code blank to receive your 10% discount.

I suggest you get a notebook or journal to record your thoughts, prayers, progress, Bible verses, and answers to the questions at the end of each chapter.

****The study officially begins May 29, 2011. You do not need to do anything before this date. Visit my blog, www.MelissaTaylor.org , on this date and you will find your first week of assignments. You can sign up on my blog to receive automatic blogposts to your email if that makes it easier for you. You can do that by clicking “Subscribe by Email” just below my picture on my blog.

****Here’s how it works. Each Sunday I will post your assignments for the week. Most weeks will have 1 chapter of reading, Bible Study questions, personal challenges, video message, Scripture highlights, and a word of the week. The beauty of an online study is that you can work it in to your schedule. The posts will remain online for you to look at anytime it’s convenient for you. I will continue to post during the week and you are encouraged to comment in the comment section of the blog. You can reply to me and you can also reply to others who comment. It’s a great way to interact, share your thoughts, encourage others, ask for prayer, etc.

****Conference Calls. THESE ARE OPTIONAL. There is a cost of $15.00 for these calls. The calls will take place Monday evenings, June 13, June 27, July 11, and August 1, at 8 pm EST. During each call, you will hear a short but power packed message from me, Interview with the special guests, and have time for Q and A. Prior to each call you will receive call in information and an outline.

Following each call, you will receive information to access the recording (via phone or computer download). You never have to worry about missing a thing even if you can’t be on the call live!

I will send out a separate email with the details of our guests, but just to give you an idea, we have the author of Hidden Joy, a certified counselor, a mother of a daughter who was sexually abused, a woman who has chosen faith and hope despite her circumstances, and a Proverbs 31 speaker and author devoted to helping teens and women find their hope and value in Jesus. I am so excited about this Conference Call Series and I hope many of you will join me for these. Just ask anyone who has done them before, they really are worth it.

****Let me introduce the lovely, Angie Combs. You may receive email updates from a new addition to the Online Bible Studies Team. Her name is Angie and she is fabulous! She is assisting me because it just got to be too much for me to keep up with on my own! You will love her and any questions you have for me, you can also ask her. We both will be posting on “Melissa Taylor’s Online Bible Studies” Facebook Page and answering your questions at MelissaTaylorQuestions@gmail.com. Welcome Angie, I’ve needed you all along and I’m so thankful to have you on this team!

Thank you for your time today. I will be in touch soon! In the mean time, check my blog for articles, updates, etc.

I feel so blessed to have you join this study. I know many of you are nervous, a little frightened, and anxious about it. I’m praying for you! We can do this. God wants us to do this. And we will be in it together. There is hope and healing found in God and we will walk this journey together, hand in hand.

Love and Blessings to You Today <3
Melissa

***Please forgive any typos or goof ups you may see in this email! I’m a work in progress!